The Swope Park Rangers (12-9-7, 6th place) will welcome Fresno FC (8-9-11, 11th place) to Kansas City for the first time when the two sides take the field at 4 p.m. CT on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park. Tickets for the match are available online at SeatGeek.comor at the stadium box office prior to kick off.
The Rangers are riding a four-game unbeaten run, including wins in each of the last three outings, entering Sunday’s showdown and will look to avenge a 4-1 loss at Fresno on Father’s Day in June, when SPR was tasked with the team’s third game in nine days across three different time zones.
This time around, the Rangers are amidst a five-game homestand which opened with one-goal victories over regional rivals Tulsa Roughnecks FC and OKC Energy FC. While SPR is coming off back-to-back wins against foes from the Sooner State, Fresno enters on the heels of two straight draws versus opponents from the Silver State after splitting points with Las Vegas Lights FC and Reno 1868 FC in the past two weeks.
Fresno FC, one of four USL expansion sides, is led by General Manager Frank Yallop, who twice won MLS Cup and MLS Coach of the Year honors. Yallop has made two notable changes to the Foxes’ roster -- one on each end of the field -- since the previous meeting with SPR and his side now sits five points out of playoff position.
Goalkeeper CJ Cochran’s loan spell came to an end in July, allowing 10-year MLS veteran Kyle Reynish to return between the sticks. In addition, Fresno acquired striker Myer Bevan on loan from MLS affiliate Vancouver Whitecaps FC last month and Bevan made his team debut last weekend as a second-half substitute.
While both teams feature dangerous attacking duos, the Rangers and Foxes will each be missing their team’s second leading scorer on Sunday due to injuries as Kharlton Belmar (nine goals) and Jemal Johnson (eight goals) are each sidelined. Instead, the attention will focus on SPR striker Hadji Barry, who has goals in four straight games to give him 12 total on the campaign, and Fresno captain Juan Pablo Caffa, who has nine goals and ranks fifth in USL with 61 chances created.
Sunday’s match, the USL Week 26 finale, will be streamed live on ESPN+ and in-game updates will also be available via the USLsoccer.com Match Center.
Game 29 of 34
Date: Sunday, September 9, 2018
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. CT
Location: Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, Kansas)
Swope Park Rangers: 12-9-7 (43 points, 6th place in Western Conference)
MLS Affiliate: Sporting Kansas City
Fresno FC: 8-9-11 (35 points, 11th place in Western Conference)
MLS Affiliate: Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Game Notes: Click here
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Live Stream: ESPN+
Talent: Dave Borchardt (play-by-play) and Sam Kovzan (analyst)
SOCIAL TAGS
Game-specific hashtag: #SPRvFRS
Swope Park Rangers
Twitter: @SwopeRangers
Instagram: @SwopeParkRangers
Fresno FC
Twitter: @FFCFoxes
Instagram: @FFCFoxes
